Sea float



' 0 July 1930. .1. c. SCHLEICHER 1 ,770,044

- SEA FLOAT Filed Sept. 3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet .l

July 8, 1930. J. c. SCHLEICHER SEA FLOAT Filed Sept. 3, 1927 -3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR G BY i Q ATTORNEY July 8, 1930. J. CQ'SCHLEICHER SEA FLOAT Filed Sept. 3. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet s WITNESS: I g

'IWIWHI INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented July 8,. 1930' "j {UNITE "STATES mm o. scrrnnrorrnaor nnonxfnnw YORK l snarnoar I Application filed September 3, 192 7. Serial'No; 217,394.

in sea floats. V

The primary object of the invention is to provide afloat of; mammoth proportion for use as stations at suitable spaced distances across oceans and otherwidebodies of water, and is especially adapted for use as a landing float for all types of air craft 'forincreasing' This invention relates to improvements the'safety of aircraft in traversing such bodies of water. a 7

Another object of the invention resides in a sea float which resembles the hull of a giant ocean liner in which means is provided for keeping the same in the same general location on a body of water against the elements, without anchoring the same to the ocean body, which latter method is impractical for use on bodies of water of great depths. Y

Another object is the provision of a sea float embodying landing means for land air craft and -hydro-aircraft, and anchoring means for the lighter-thanair-craft such as dirigibles and balloons, in addition to ample deck space, store rooms, livingquarters for crew and guests, and recreation halls for those on board.

Another object is to provide a sea float which includes all the conveniences of a modern hotel and which may be run on the I v plans of such to make the same a profitable business proposition.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of whicha rev hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which V I Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sea float. I r T Figure 2 is a topplan view thereof. t Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view therethrough.

Figure 4c 1s a vertical longitudinal sectional view therethrough on the line of Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on 5D the line 5--5 of 'FigureB.

into the hull for manual operation. The nor- Figure 6 is a detail sectional view. on the line 66 of Figure 5. r

Referring more particularly to the draw: ings, the reference numeral 10 designates my improved sea float in its entirety which includes a buoyant hull 11 having stream lines and resemblingthe hull of a giant ocean liner but of a length greatly in excess to the ocean liners now in use. A superstructure 12 rises upward fromthe hull 11 and extends the length'thereof. The hull and'superstructure are constructed of structural steel such as now used in ship building so that a descrip tion of the specific parts andmaterials is not believed necessary. The hull 11 isprovided with a downwardly extending fin or keel 13 adjacent the bow end-thereof to aid in maintaining the bow end into the wind when the float is freely anchored in a body of water as it is thepurpose "to prevent any great amount of drift of the float when'given a set position upon a vast body of water. These floats" are to be arranged in' s'p'aced relation v across oceans from one continent to another, and theirpositions will be identified'by longitude and latitude. The hull 11 has a flat stern having motor driven propellers 14 at opposite sides thereof which serve to hold thefloat against drifting by reason of wind and by the operation of which the float maybe swung around to various positions and which co-operate with the fin 13 to hold the bow into the wind. Also mounted at the stern on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the hull are rudders 15 which are pivoted on a horizontal axis midway between their ends as at'16 to swing -vertically so that the opposite ends thereof-counterbalance; The rudders may-be swung into pockets 17 in the hull when not in use to reduce resistance, but may be extended beyond the bottom of the hull to vary their depth into the water to set up resistance to' prevent swinging of the stern.

The rudders-may be'used-for steering .purposes the same as any other rudder as they ex-' tend outward at an angle with respeotto the longitudinal axis of the hull and are operated up and down by the actuation of cables 18 fixed to the inner'ends thereofand extending V planes' andfor batherswhen used for swimmal tendency or the rudders is tolie-Within jthe pockets-but may be extended by pulling upward upon the oper ng cable's- The central body of the superstructure providedwith a harbor- 19 which, opens through the stern-of the hull. The bottom 20 .of the harbor is"disposedlbelow the water level of thexhull and graduallyirises toward the how so that the depth of the same varies.

The sea water covers the bottomof the har bor and providesa landing harbor andfan chorage for sea planes. When not used as such, the samemay. be used as a swimming pool for guests on board the float. The sides of the harbor or pool have'walks or platforms 21: for lan ding persons from the sea .The top; ofthe superstructure constitutes .3, .landingplatform 22 having. prome enade decks 23along the sides fully protected on the outside by railings. @The landing plat- 1; The spacei'nterposed between the landing platformand; the top ofthe harbor or pool andrdesignatedat 25maybe used as a recre- Qation' hall .having a seatingcapacity in proportion to the .guestaccommodations of the sea float andin which entertainments may be provided for. the; recreation ofv the guests This space may be divided up into several difierent 'rooms-if desired. ;For the purpose of admitting light into the hall 25, I pro-' vide .the landing platform with gratings 26 h c day gh and fresh air may penetrate. a

Disposed onopposite-sides of the super structure are living. compartments'27' any number of tiers or decksof which may be provided. Access to the various decks maybe had by Stairways and elevators as willread ily be appreciated.

As hereinbeztore stated, these sea floats are to be stationed at suitable spaced intervals V 7 over a body of, water for use as-landing and V fuel filling stations for all types of aircraft.

' general location is maintained bythe gear: he 'reinbe i'ore mentioned. I In stormy weather, the bow ofthefioat will alvfvays head into the windan d'anyrdeviationmaybeovercome Th a ne ho dnterwar t t ocean bottom' cbut are .free however, their by. the prop llers and rudder.

It -will bei ppreciatedthat my sea-float has many possibilities, someof which have been po'inted out; Among others the use of plans for ball rooms, diningrooms, radio an Wir e s r ms th use of t reer tle room for balls, concerts, moving pictures,

boxing exhibitionsand the like. The lower fcompartments below the water line may be used as power plants, electrical plants, fuel storage, water tanks, refrigerators and cargoes for foodand other essential supplies. Also storagespace "for goods for shipping and exchange'of trade. The living quarters .in the superstructure maybe used for private living suites, private baths, Turkish baths, Russian baths,tonsorial parlors, beauty parlors, sun and electrical baths, hospital, bank, business exchange, rest rooms, etc. The float may be equippedtoofi'er all the luxuries of a first class hotel and in itself it may be termed a floating city. 'Furthermore, it will serve to establish quicker travel between nations and will tend to increase the better relations and goodwill among difierent nationalities.

In addition to the purposes mentioned, the top. deck" may serve as a convenient location for a beacon, search lights, derricks :tor liftingaircraft from the water to the deck, a machine shop for the repair of planes, me chanics quarters. The harbor and pool may also be used as'anenclosed pond for boating. WVhile I have described what I deem to be the most'desirable embodimentof my invention, it is obvious that many ofthedetails may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit otmy invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of constructionherein set forth norito anything less than-the whole-ofmy invention limited only by theappended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. ,A sea float comprising a buoyant hull, a superstructure rising from said hull and divided interiorly. into variousliving com sartnzents, a landing platform on, the top. 0 said and a compartment within said hull opening out through one end thereof, the bottom of said compartment being disposedbelow the water line of said hull to allow sea water to enter the same, a fin extending downwardly from saidhull'a-djacent the bow of said hull for maintaining the sea-float bow on into the wind, and means located at opposite sides of the'stern of said hull'movable to positions within and below the same for resisting lateral movement ofthe stern end of the seafloat when in lowered position below said hull. I

' 8. A sea-float for aircraft comprising a buoyant hull, a water compartment within said hull and opening out through one vend thereof, thebottom of said compartment being disposed below the Water line of said hull to allow sea Water to enter the same, a superstructure rising from said hull, a landing platform on the top of said superstructure,

and living compartments disposedon oppok at opposite sides of the stern for resisting lateral movement 'ofthe stern end of the seafloat, said means lnclud'mg rudders plvoted on a horlzontal axis for movement into and out of pockets provided in the bottom of said hull.

a 5. In a sea float for aircraft a hull having pockets in the underside of the stern at opposite sides thereof, and rudders pivoted on a horizontal axis Within said pockets for sWinging movement at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said hull for movement .to an idle position Within said pockets and to an extended operative position beyond the same.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN c. SOHLEIOHER. 

